Women hit back at 'archaic and damaging' views on transgender rights in scathing open letter

Dozens of female celebrities, politicians and women's rights campaigners have condemned the "narrow and archaic" opinions they say are are squashing transgender rights in Scotland.

More than 70 women from across the UK have penned an open letter hitting out at commentators they claim are trying to "roll back the rights" of transgender women.

Since the Scottish Government pledged to reform the Gender Recognition Act to be more inclusive of transgender people, critics have argued doing so will impact on the rights of non-transgender women and girls.

Various commentators, news outlets and politicians have argued that by being able to self-declare your gender or non-binary status, services and safe places for women would no longer be safe.

Some argue that by allowing transgender women who may not completed their gender reassignment access to services designated for women it would be impacting on women's rights.

Today, scores of women have joined together for the first time in hitting out at the claims, with signatories of the open letter including Dame Emma Thompson, MPs Mhairi Black and Hannah Bardell, members of women's aid organisations, charities, lawyers and academics.

They argue that the discussion around recognising transgender people's rights to declare themselves male or female does not impact on their rights as women, and say "The conversation has to change."

Their letter states: "As a collective of women, we urge that trans-exclusionary writers do not suggest that their narrow and archaic arguments are in any way representative of the women of Scotland. They do not speak for us.

"This is not an issue of Freedom of Speech. Both sides have a plethora of platforms to outline their position. However, it is imperative that these platforms should not be used to spread misinformation or misrepresent the law or the facts in this area.

"Trans people have played an integral role in every civil rights movement to date; from LGBT equality to women's causes. Attempts to airbrush trans people from conversations regarding equality and human rights, or to exclude them from advancements for LGBT and women's rights, have happened before. Such efforts may have re-energised, but they are nothing new, and we say as a collective of women: they are not representative of us. We support trans rights."

Organised by Rhiannon Spear, an SNP councillor in Glasgow and chairwoman of the Time for Inclusive Education campaign, other signatories include Bridget Bradley of the University of Edinburgh School of Medical Anthropology, Naomi McAuliffe, Scotland Programme Director at Amnesty International, Gayle Telfer Stevens, Olivier award-winning actor and Jackie Brock, Chief Executive at Children in Scotland.

The letter continues: "We believe that national conversations about gender-based discrimination and violence are necessary, however these conversations should not in any way attempt to roll back the rights that trans people already have in Scotland, nor spread misinformation.

"Outlets and commentators have an ethical responsibility to consider the impact of their reportage, analysis and commentary particularly on the mental health of trans young people. Recently, data from Stonewall Scotland revealed that over half of trans people considered ending their lives last year. Trans people continue to face unlawful discrimination and violence. Routine misinformation and sensationalism is contributing to a cultural climate where this is legitimised. This has to stop."

It comes following a series of controversial tweets on Friday by SNP MSP Joan McAlpine, who has previously spoken out against self-identification in the context of the Scottish census.

McAlpine, who is the convener of the Scottish Parliament's culture committee, argued that women are given "protections based on biological sex" and if transgender women, who still have male genitalia, were able to self identify as female it could impact the Equality act.

She said:"Sex exemptions in the Equality Act are vital for privacy & dignity in shared spaces also "occupation exemptions" for jobs supporting vulnerable females. This matters as more men self ID as women while retaining male bodies and male genitals

"Lastly I am disappointed with the "official" women's groups who have embraced concept of sex self ID, even though the GRA is unchanged and self ID has no legal weight.

"They will not listen to concerns of many ordinary women in Scotland who fear that the definition of female is being replaced with a concept of "gender identity" based on 1950s sexist stereotypes. This is not a feminism I recognise."

Scottish feminist organisation Engender has described McAlpine's statements as "inaccurate and damaging" and have contacted her directly to raise concerns.

TIE Campaign chairwoman Rhiannon Spear said McAlpine's comments did not represent the views of many women in Scotland, and risks taking a “a devastating step back for women and for feminism”.

She said: "As a woman and a proud feminist, I know that advancing trans rights does not threaten my womanhood or my feminism.

"That stance is not only shared by this letter’s co-signatories; but by many women’s support services, networks, organisations and centres across the country - who have a long history and solid record of standing up for women.

"I believe it is important that we're able to have open conversations about advancing equalities within our society. However, the current narrative has meant that rather than properly discussing much needed advancements we are now forced to revert to conversation about defending the existence of trans identities and protecting the current rights of the trans community.

"Defining womanhood by conforming to strict biological and physical attributes has been fought against by women long before my time. To now see some advocate that trans women are denied their rights and their dignity on these very grounds, I believe would be a devastating step back for women and for feminism."

'Attempts to airbrush trans people from conversations regarding equality and human rights have happened before. As a collective of women they are not representative of us.'

We, the undersigned, are a large and diverse group of women who are committed to ensuring that trans people feel welcome and safe within our society.

Recently there has been a rise in ill-informed articles and commentary, where writers have continually insinuated that trans women are not women. These same pieces misrepresent current legal statutes, equalities policies, and public attitudes in Scotland.

Since 2004 the Gender Recognition Act has realised, in law, the rights of trans women as women and trans men as men. Since 1999, the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations and then the Equality Act (2010) have recognised, in law, the right of the trans community not to be discriminated against on the basis of their gender reassignment. The right of trans people to access gender specific services is an already settled legal matter.

Many national and regional news outlets routinely fail in their pages to recognise this legal reality. Instead, it is our perspective that some writers rely on recycling outdated arguments in an uncomfortable attempt to shoehorn trans identities into much needed conversations about gender-based discrimination and violence.

We believe that national conversations about gender-based discrimination and violence are necessary, however these conversations should not in any way attempt to roll back the rights that trans people already have in Scotland, nor spread misinformation.

In the Scottish Government's recent public consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act (2004) a majority of respondents supported gender self declaration, as well as recognising non-binary people. As a collective of women, we urge that trans-exclusionary writers do not suggest that their narrow and archaic arguments are in any way representative of the women of Scotland. They do not speak for us.

This is not an issue of Freedom of Speech. Both sides have a plethora of platforms to outline their position. However, it is imperative that these platforms should not be used to spread misinformation or misrepresent the law or the facts in this area.

When this conversation is reduced to allegations of "shutting down debate" whenever misrepresentation or misinformation is challenged, the result is to purposefully discount the position of many women - like us - who support the trans community. We will be heard.

Trans people have played an integral role in every civil rights movement to date; from LGBT equality to women's causes. Attempts to airbrush trans people from conversations regarding equality and human rights, or to exclude them from advancements for LGBT and women's rights, have happened before. Such efforts may have re-energised, but they are nothing new, and we say as a collective of women: they are not representative of us. We support trans rights.

Outlets and commentators have an ethical responsibility to consider the impact of their reportage, analysis and commentary particularly on the mental health of trans young people. Recently, data from Stonewall Scotland revealed that over half of trans people considered ending their lives last year. Trans people continue to face unlawful discrimination and violence. Routine misinformation and sensationalism is contributing to a cultural climate where this is legitimised. This has to stop.

Journalists, commentators, and publishers have a central role to play in ensuring Scotland is a welcoming and inclusive place for trans people.

The conversation has to change.

Rhiannon Spear, Chair of Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) and Glasgow City Councillor for Greater Pollok

Tiffany Kane, Vice Chair of Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) and Operations Manager at Common Weal

Dame Emma Thompson, Double Academy Award Winner

Laura Waddell, Publisher and Writer

Dr Jennifer Jones, Independent

Rosa Zambonini, Communications Manager to Member of the Scottish Parliament

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